My daughter alerts me via her blog that one may read the 1,500-page stimulus bill online.

This little bit of transparency can in no way be credited to the new era of Hope and Change, though. As my daughter observes:

The Obama administration has talked of an intention to put the stimulus bill online for the American people to read before it’s voted on, which is commendable.

But where is it? Apparently in the same place as the press briefing transcripts. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about when the bill would go online, and replied that it would be available between the time the bill is in its final form and when President Obama signs it.

As Gibbs and anyone with a passing interest in politics knows, that’s around about the exact time that having it online will no longer matter.

What’s available at ReadTheStimulus.org is by no means ideal. As the site explains:

When we inquired as to whether a better version was available — perhaps an original and not a scanned copy — a knowledgeable source told us: “A non-scanned version doesn’t exist. This document is being kept under lock and key in the appropriations committee and only even a few paper copies exist.” Excellent. Our tax dollars at work!

Read the stimulus? If only our members of Congress would do so.